Roy Hodgson: the pressure is on but England now have a chance of winning World Cup in Brazil after Poland win

Manager Roy Hodgson reveals the pressure he felt as England beat Poland at
Wembley to qualify for next year's World Cup finals.

Roy Hodgson made the triumphant claim on Tuesday night that his England team would have a genuine chance next summer of winning what he calls the “lottery” of a World Cup.

“If you want to win the lottery, buy a lottery ticket,” Hodgson said. “We have our ticket. I have great trust in my players that they will not let us down. We have got a chance. It’s job done. We’re looking forward to going to Brazil, something the whole nation wants and backs us over.”

Goals from Wayne Rooney and ­Steven Gerrard, two of England’s old guard, sealed last night’s 2-0 victory over Poland but it is the current blend of youth and experience that has convinced Hodgson that this team will be even better next summer.

“There’ll be a lot of pressure on us, but this team is growing in accepting pressure,” the England manager said. “The blend between the senior and young players looks good. I’m hoping they all stay fit because it’s made a big difference getting all the young ­players fit again.

“We’ve been working together for 18 months and the way we play has changed. We’re getting better all the time and hopefully will get better still. The players really are a group and they trust each other. I’d like to think we’ll play a very attacking style when we have the ball next summer.

“You want all these guys to go, and there’ll be another 15 I fancy will join us. It’ll be a tough job to pick 23. A lot more will merit selection. I’m not looking forward to that situation, but I’m not going to contemplate it for a few months.”

Tuesday night was also a very personal triumph for Hodgson. Having suffered what he called a “1,000 deaths” during the game, he admitted that leading England in Brazil next summer will be the pinnacle of his 38-year career in management.

“I’m not being emotional, but emotions are churning around inside me,” Hodgson said. “I died 1,000 deaths every time they crossed the halfway line, which is what you do. That second goal took about 10 years off our lives. We played some sensational football in the first half and we dug in very well and controlled them in the second.”

It will be the second time that Hodgson has led a team to a World Cup finals tournament after qualifying with Switzerland back in 1994. “It means an awful lot,” he said.

“I think it will top anything I have done. I don’t want to denigrate other achievements, or people in Switzerland, to think I wasn’t very proud of that achievement particularly as Switzerland didn’t have the wealth of players and quality of players we have here.

"But I’m English. As an Englishman, it means a little bit more to you. We’ve done the job, and we can be proud of that achievement and look forward to getting our reward: playing in Brazil.”

There was also particular praise for the impact throughout this qualifying campaign of his captain, Steven Gerrard. “It was fitting that Gerrard got the goal,” Hodgson said. “If someone has played a captain’s innings for the team, it was him.”

Gerrard said it had been a reward for the fans but wants England to improve their ball retention next summer. “If there was a big lesson it is to keep possession better in the opposition half when it gets tough,” Gerrard said.

“Since I’ve made my England debut there’s always been criticism from outside but it makes you stronger to work hard and under tremendous pressure we proved we could perform. That was for the supporters, who can make their plans for Brazil now.”